One Year. This marks the 52nd playlist I have posted to this site. Sadly, it was supposed to be a family blog. I feel, at times, very saddened because this was supposed to be something my sisters and I did to keep in touch with each other, family and the world as a whole. I feel as though I have taken it over. I guess that is because I have taken it over. They don't post anything at all anymore. I have thought about moving everything over to another address so that maybe, just maybe they would post again. I would like said sisters to weigh in on this, or at least start posting again...
Anyway, for this playlist I thought long and hard about what I could do to commemorate a year of music and playlists. I thought about songs about one year, songs that came out when I was one. Boring stuff like that. then I decided I would post songs that mark musical milestones throughout my life. You will see this list is heavily weighted towards 90's music, as that is the decade in which in designed most of my musical tastes. The list ranges from when I was at least 5, possibly younger the mid 2006ish range. It is by no means a comprehensive list of music that I enjoy. Nor is it all of the genres I enjoy. It is just a few stories from my life that mark what music I listened to, and why.
Enjoy. Thanks for listening. =)
TTT #52 Playlist
Twitter For Spotify Playlist
The Shop
Red Red Wine - UB40
Consumer Electronics was the name of the electronics repair shop my Dad owned when I was a little Kenny. I don't remember most things about it, as I was young, and the day to day operations of Dad's work weren't on my radar. I remember it was in a building across from Casa Manana. My mom ran the front of the shop. There were two guys in the back that worked on the stuff, one of them being my father.
The fondest memories I have of the shop are of the place next door that had awesome hamburgers and indoor mini golf. I remember there being a box in which you deposited quarters and go to take a bag of chips. Chili Cheese Fritos being my go to snack. I remember dropped parachute shaped packing peanuts from atop my father's work bench to see them fall slow. The thing I remember most though, is dancing with my mother after the shop closed to this song. I recently (less than a week) found out that my mother hates this song because the other tech in the shop would always play it. Doesn't matter. Still love it.
My First Record Player
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
My first record player sat on a shelf in my room when I was around six or seven. It looked nothing like the picture above. I didn't own any records of my own but my parents had tons. Some Michael Jackson, some old country, lots of folk and random bits from the 60's and 70's. This one was one of my favorites. I assume for the bass lines alone. I was such a badass.
DO you have the time?
Basket Case - Green Day
Some of my early obsession with MTV was due to that angsty alternative everyone listened to in the 90's. I liked grunge just fine but I think most of me liked the "alternative" stuff just a little bit more. First time I ever heard the term basket case. Which I now know to mean a soldier who has lost both arms and both legs and is incapable of moving around independently. Damn...
Aaaaaa Liiiiikely Stoooooory
Spiderwebs - No Doubt
I thought, think, Gwen Stefani is extremely hot. Back then though, whew, she rang my teenage bell. She was blond, had bangs, was kinda punk. She looks like she could be sweet and bash your face in at the same time. Love it.
International Racing Of Champions
Of Wolf And Man - Metallica
The first time I heard this music they call "metal" I was riding with my sister and her husband in the backseat of his IROC Camaro. At least that's what I remember. I think we were at a car wash. Whatever. I heard the black album for the first time and that's when I started enjoying the more heavier things life had to offer. While I would not stay with it, or dive farther into it, I still like to pull out some real metal every now and then.
Is He Upside Down?
Shoots & Ladders - Korn
Say what you want about Korn, go ahead, I don't listen to them anymore, but they definitely carved out their own little niche. I suppose you can say they are the fathers of Nu-Metal, which, whatever. I remember them as the metal band that their first song I heard started with bag pipes. Bag pipes + metal = mind blown. I remember my middle school friend JB and I were watching MTV at like 3 in the morning when we first saw it. He immediately fell in love and it marked his descent in to the ultra metal he would come to love in high school. For me, I just thought it was kinda cool. BUT it showed me that you could mix genres and to hell with what people thought about it.
I bought it for the music...really...
Pipeline - The Chantay's
I really did buy this CD for the music on it. It stands today as one of the best compilations of surf music I have ever bought. I love surf music. Always have. Virtuostic instrumentals played at blinding speed or just a mellow gallop? Big Kahunas. Who doesn't love that?!
Plus it's Jenny McCarthy in a bikini straddling a beach ball AND there was a poster...pft...come on...
Ryan & Sale
Down On The Corner - CCR
I actually got to see Creedence Clearwater Revisisted live when I was a younger Kenny. There was a time in my life when I thought that album there was the greatest album I have ever laid my hands on. CCRevisted was a let down because the lead singer was different and the drummer was an asshole when we asked for his autograph. Douche. I would still go see John Fogerty live, the rest of em? meh.
I think I'll learn Guitar
Layla - Derek & The Dominos
When I was around 15 (ish) My dad took me to New Orleans to see Eric Clapton play at the super dome. I think we had a great time, I did at least. The Super Dome is a frightening building to climb the steps of. It was also around the time that Eric Clapton did MTV Unplugged so they played the acoustic version of Layla. Wasn't a fan of all that, at the time. Great show though. I listened to Clapton so much back then that I am completely incapable of listening to any now. I still change it. Especially if it's Sunshine of Your Love or Cocaine *shudder* I just can't anymore. Too. Many. Times.
I Don't Even Drink
One Bourbon, One Scotch and One Beer - George Thorogood
This was one of those songs that when my dad would go to Houston, which was pretty often, we would stop off and a huge music store (remember those?) and hunt through their CDs for the stuff I couldn't find here in po dunk. Which was plenty. I really enjoyed those trips with my dad. Computer stuff, road trip food, Chinese food (the real stuff, not the take out stuff) oldies on the radio. Good times.
It's So
Say It Ain't So - Weezer
This album showed me that nerds could be cool.
A Whole Day...wasted...
Bullet With Butterfly Wings - The Smashing Pumpkins
I first heard the ass end of this song as the video was going off on MTV. That's back when MTV only played videos kids. I often spent my late nights just watching music videos. I woke up generally early one summer. Probably some where in the 8am range. I decided I was going to watch MTV until I heard this song so I could right down the album and go buy it. That's what ya had to do back then because there was no Google or the World Wide Web. I stayed awake all day. Never fell asleep once. Just blindly, endlessly watching MTV. Around 4pm I hadn't seen hide nor hair of the video. I was getting annoyed. I was irritable. I had to pee. 5pm. NEED to pee. 6pm Peeing, can't wait.
From the bathroom I hear the opening chords of the song. I was so pissed (pun intended). I caught the ass end again, but at least I got the album name, and bought the album and relished in one of the greatest double albums of all time.
Late Night
Rumble In Brighton - Stray Cats
I was watching some late night show one time and the stray cats were on there playing this song. That lead me to liking Brian Setzer which led me to liking Brian Setzer Orchestra later in life and opened the doors to more swing and rockabilly. Genres open wide.
8th Grade Band Trip
Bulls On Parade - Rage Against The Machine
If you had just bought a brand spanking new Mercedes Coach bus, like our bus driver had, would the first thing you decide to book with it be 75+ middle schoolers for a 3 day band trip from Southwest Louisiana to Dallas, Texas? Not if you weren't stupid. But this guy did. We got in so much trouble when we got back because, 13 year olds being what they are, practically destroyed the bus. I think he may have actually decided on a different profession after that trip. No lie. They were terrible. All I did was sit and listen to my newest CD I just bought. Evil Empire. It had cussing and all kinds of political songs on it. It was amazing.
It was sold to 13 year old Kenny by a guy at SoundShop in a Dallas mall. When he asked if I was 17 he laughed then he said "I'm just fuckin' with ya, you look like you can handle it..."
Thanks Dallas CD shop guy.
Rap now?
California Love - 2Pac & Dr. Dre
Since Rage Against The Machine is very rap-esque. It opened the door to rap. Probably not this song, but I like listening to this song because it's jammin. I have always been a bit more West Coast rap than East.
It's beyond thunderdome bitch.
EDM (Electronic Dance Music)
Breathe - The Prodigy
This song introduced me to crazy hair styles, British electronic music, and the movie Hackers. I know this wasn't IN hackers. But their other album was featured heavily and I loved it. I still love a good electro-pop song.
When I was listening to this I thought the coolest thing you could be was a roller blading hacker that played video games and listened to heavy electronic rave music. I was right.
A Little Heavier
Chop Suey - System Of A Down
I learned later in life that this song has lyrics pulled straight from the #1 best selling book of all time: The Bible. I didn't know it at the time I just thought it was pretty jamming track. Unfortunately it took me into what I now refer to as douche music. I don't think SoAD is douche music. But it lead me (somehow) to Creed, Staind & Nickleback. All of which I have rehab-ed from. Thank god.
You Know Who You Look Like?
A Favor House Atlantic - Coheed & Cambria
I have heard the question 'Do you know who you look like?' more times than I care to think about. Changes with the times. When Lost was big, it was Hurley. Now that Duck Dynasty is big, it's Willie. I can accept all of these things. Although most times it's you look like that other big dude with curly hair and a beard.
Whatever, it led me to Coheed so I will never complain.
Shows
Gravel - Ani DiFranco
This song reminds me of some of my favorite (and least favorite) times. Playing shows with Breanna was just a blast. Sad to think that I won't ever be able to do it again. We hated some of the songs we played but I will always look back with fondness. I think those few years will always be my best.
Just Because
The Saga Begins - Weird Al Yankovic
This isn't really a musical milestone so much as I just wanted to put this on here to tell a story. I read somewhere that Don McLean (the writer singer of American Pie, which this song is a parody of) liked this song so much, he would sing it to his daughters. He go so used to singing it to them that sometimes when he is singing American Pie live he sings The Saga Begins instead. Which is just great.
I hope to meet Weird Al one day he seems like a great guy. Also, a really great musician. He doesn't get near enough props for being able to pull off all of the styles he does and for lasting as long as he has. Proves there is massive talent there. Not anyone can do a decent parody.
Well that's it folks. Thanks for listening this past year and tell me what you think.
KKNY signing off...
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